Chap. 62.] THE ORCHIS. 189 



be fasting too, and the damsel must say, touching him with 

 the back of her hand, 94 " Apollo forbids that a disease shall 

 increase which a naked virgin restrains." So saying, she 

 must withdraw her hand, and repeat to the above effect three 

 times, both of them spitting upon the ground each time. 



Root, too, of mandragora 95 is used for this purpose, with 

 water ; a decoction of root of scammony with honey ; sideritis y6 

 beaten up with stale grease ; horehound with stale axle- 

 grease ; or chrysippios, 97 a plant which owes its name to its 

 discoverer with pulpy figs. 



CHAP. 61. (10.) APHRODISIACS AND ANTAPHROD1SIACS. 



Nymph a3a heraclia, used as already stated, 98 acts most 

 powerfully as an antaphrodisiac ; the same too if taken once 

 overy forty days in drink. Taken in drink fasting, or eaten 

 with the food, it effectually prevents the recurrence of libidi- 

 nous dreams. The root too, used in the form of a liniment and 

 applied to the generative organs, not only represses all prurient 

 desires, but arrests the seminal secretions as well ; for which 

 reason, it is said to have a tendency to make flesh and to 

 improve the voice. 99 



The upper part of the root of xiphion, 1 taken in wine, acts 

 as an aphrodisiac. The same is the case too with .the wild 

 crethmos, 2 or agrios as it is called, and with horminum, 3 beaten 

 up with polenta. 4 



CHAP. 62. THE ORCHIS OE SERAPIAS : FIVE MEDICINAL 



PROPERTIES. SATTRION. 



Eut there are few plants of so marvellous a nature as the 

 orchis 5 or serapias, a vegetable production with leaves like 



94 The following is the formula of this monstrous piece of absurdity : 

 " Negat Apollo pestem posse crescere cui nuda virgo restinguat.' 1 



95 See B. xxv. c. 94. * See B. xxv. c. 19. 



97 An unknown plant. 



98 In B. xxv. c. 37. This alleged property of the Nymphsea is entirely 

 fabulous. " See B. xx. c. 13. 



1 See B. xxv. cc. 88 and 89. 2 See B. xxv. e. 96. 



3 See B. xviii. cc. 10 and 22. ^ 4 See B. xviii. c. 14. 



5 Identified by Littre with the Orchis undulatifolia, and by Fee with 

 the Orchis morio of Linnaeifs, the Female orchis, or Female fool-stones. 

 Its aphrodisiac properties seem not to have been proved by modern ex- 

 perience, hut it is nourishing in the highest degree. LinnaBus, however, 

 seems to be of opinion that it may have the effect of an aphrodisiac upou 



